Your care experience

During your visits to Mayo Clinic, you will usually be assigned to one Mayo Clinic doctor, who will coordinate your care. Your coordinating doctor will conduct your initial exam and decide which lab and radiology tests and other specialty consultations may be needed. Your local doctor(s) will be updated after your visit, as you direct.

We encourage you to bring a list of questions to discuss with your doctor and recommend that you meet alone without accompanying family members for at least part of your initial visit, to help develop an effective doctor-patient relationship. Consider having someone accompany you when you are receiving test results or follow-up instructions.

Teamwork

If your Mayo Clinic doctor decides that you should see other Mayo specialists, those appointments will be scheduled for you. Your doctor may also consult with other specialists behind the scenes. This team approach helps ensure that you receive all the expertise you need to find answers about your health problem as quickly as possible.

Diagnosis and treatment

Your doctor will order diagnostic tests for you through a computerized system, and you'll receive instructions on any necessary test preparations. The results of your tests will be available quickly in Mayo Clinic's electronic medical record. Your doctor will discuss them with you, along with results of other consultations, and go over treatment recommendations. A report of your exam will be sent to you and your local doctor, as you direct, and will be available for you to view online.

To reduce the cost of care and provide the fastest access to test results, we prefer that all patients with computer access enroll in Patient Online Services — our secure, confidential patient portal.

An online services account gives you access to your records as soon as they are available to your doctor.

Hospitalization

If you and your doctor decide that you need hospital care, you'll be admitted to Mayo Clinic Hospital on the Phoenix campus. If you are too ill to be examined as an outpatient at the clinic, you may be admitted directly to the hospital. Admissions are arranged by a Mayo Clinic doctor, in consultation with your local doctor as appropriate.

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